WHO says its deal with Israel will allow limited pauses in Gaza fighting for polio vaccinations
The U.N. World Health Organization says it's reached an agreement with Israel for limited pauses in fighting in Gaza to allow for polio vaccinations for hundreds of thousands of children
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. World Health Organization said Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Israel for limited pauses in fighting in Gaza to allow for polio vaccinations for hundreds of thousands of children after a baby contracted the first confirmed case in 25 years in the Palestinian territory.
The vaccination campaign will start Sunday in central Gaza, with a “humanitarian pause” lasting from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. for three days that can be extended by an additional day if needed, said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories.
The effort — which has been coordinated with Israeli authorities — will then move to southern Gaza and finally northern Gaza for similar pauses, he told a U.N. press conference by video from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
“I’m not going to say this is the ideal way forward. But this is a workable way forward,” Peeperkorn said.
